2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina kicks off Sunday
Spain and Argentina will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.
Updated on: July 19, 2026 / 2:56 PM EDT / CBS News
It was the largest FIFA World Cup in history, with the highly anticipated men's final capping a 39-day whirlwind that saw more than six million fans attend matches in three different host countries, including, for the first time in decades, the United States. The final takes place as skies begin to clear over the Northeast, after several hazy days of wildfire smoke traveled southward from Canada.
Argentina is the defending champion and angling to become the first country to secure two consecutive World Cup wins since Brazil's back-to-back victories during the tournaments in 1958 and 1962. But Spain is slightly favored to take home the title this year. If they do, it would be the country's second World Cup title .
Sunday's match comes 60 years after teams representing the two finalists met during the 1966 World Cup , when Argentina defeated Spain in a 2-1 match during the tournament's group stage.
This is only the second time Spain has competed in the finals, with the first being the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which was also the country's inaugural World Cup win. Argentina has reached the finals seven times, previously winning three of them.